漢代筆記 vol.12 佳士得2010年，錯金銀虎鎮18.25萬美元成交 - A Rare Gold And Silver-Inlaid Bronze Tiger-Form Weight, Eastern Han Dynasty

2010年以18.25萬美元，約145萬港元成交。錯金銀動物件十分罕見，經過多年的沉寂，這類藝術品的市場價值正在逐漸回歸。

此類動物形鎮重於戰國至漢代流行，推測用途為壓席鎮物，用於固定席角，或作為博戲「六博」之用具。多以動物為形，有時亦見人物、山嶽造型，常見盤旋構圖以形成穩固結構。製作材質以青銅為主，並施金銀錯嵌、鍍金、嵌寶等富麗裝飾，彰顯器主的高貴身份。

東漢 錯金銀虎鎮

A rare gold and silver-inlaid bronze tiger-form weight, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

成交價

美元 182,500

估價

美元 60,000 – 美元 80,000

大都會博物館1916年東方部開幕展覽

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此件虎形鎮為實心鑄造，呈緊緻盤踞之勢，抬首怒視，威勢逼人。虎身巧妙以金銀錯嵌描繪臉部特徵與虎紋條理，展現出細膩的工藝水平。鎮之底部平坦，錯銀銘文分兩行排列，共十一字，記述所用金銀的重量與成品重量。

銘文釋讀：「銀黃各八銖／并重二斤六兩」

此銘記載所用金銀量為「各八銖」，成品總重「二斤六兩」。據實測此鎮現重為501.5克，換算得知當時一斤約為236.42克。

來源與展覽紀錄：

• 1988年購於香港

• 展出於1990年《中國古代與鄂爾多斯青銅器》，香港藝術館，編號115

• 展出於2000年《中國青銅器的光輝傳統》，新加坡，編號96

• 展出於2002–2006年《金木水火土》，香港藝術館

  
  

本品風格可與佳士得1985年12月2日拍賣之另一件虎形鎮相較（拍品編號87），該品亦以銀箔錯嵌虎紋，形態頗似。類似的構圖與工藝亦可見於波士頓伊莎貝拉嘉納博物館2006年展覽《A Bronze Menagerie: Mat Weights of Early China》所錄之西漢鎏金虎鎮與四件瑪瑙鎮，詳見展覽圖錄第76–77頁，圖版1與2。

絕版威尼斯1954中國藝術大展圖錄：MOSTRA D'ARTE CINESE 1954

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Lot 886. A rare gold and silver-inlaid bronze tiger-form weight, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD); 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) across. Estimate 60,000 - USD 80,000 USD. Price realised 182,500 USD. © Christie's Image Ltd 2010.

The solid-cast figure shown in a tightly coiled recumbent position with head raised in a menacing attitude, finely inlaid in silver and gold with facial features and stripes, the flat base inlaid in silver with an eleven-character inscription arranged in two lines, which gives the weight of the gold and silver used and the weight of the finished object, box.

Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 1988. 

Exhibited: Ancient Chinese and Ordos Bronzes, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1990, no. 115.The Glorious Traditions of Chinese Bronzes, Singapore, 2000, no. 96.Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 2002-2006. 

Note: The inscription may be read, "Yin huang ge ba zhu/Bing zhang er jin liu liang". The inscription refers to the silver and gold used in the inlay and the quantity used, "eight zhu", as well as the weight of the finished object, "two jin and six liang". As the weight today is 501.5 g., it can be calculated that a jin must have been 236.42 g.

Weights of this type, made during the Warring States period and Han dynasty, appear to have been used to hold down the corners of woven mats used for seating or for the board game liubo. They were usually made in the shape of animals, often coiled to form a circle, or in the shape of human figures, and even mountains. They were usually made of bronze, and often sumptuously decorated in gilding, or inlaid with gold, silver and gemstones to convey the high social status of the owner. 

This rare and finely inlaid weight is stylistically similar to another tiger-shaped weight inlaid in silver sheet with stripes, sold in these rooms, 2 December 1985, lot 87. The same coiled feline shape can be seen in a pair of gilt-bronze weights, and in a set of four agate weights, all dated Western Han dynasty, illustrated by M. Wang et al., in the exhibition catalogue, A Bronze Menagerie: Mat Weights of Early China, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, 2006, pp. 76-7, nos. 1 and 2.